{"id":35121,"date":"2016-01-27T05:42:48","date_gmt":"2016-01-27T11:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=35121"},"modified":"2025-08-04T13:19:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T18:19:23","slug":"a-bear-river-mbr-barn-owl-on-a-winter-morning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/01\/27\/a-bear-river-mbr-barn-owl-on-a-winter-morning\/","title":{"rendered":"Bear River MBR American Barn Owl On A Winter Morning"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmericanAmerican Barn Owl in flight over the Bear River – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/4000, ISO 500, Nikon 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I spent about 15 minutes with this American Barn Owl yesterday after I spotted it along the north side of the auto tour loop at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a>. It spent most of its time in flight looking for prey either along the dirt road on the south side of the road or on the north side close to the river.<\/p>\n

\"ColdCold morning and an American Barn Owl in flight – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikon 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

The lowest temp I saw was yesterday was 11\u00b0F and there was snow on the ground which is probably why the American Barn Owl kept hunting after the sun came up. I feel blessed that I am able to see and photograph them in the winter but I do worry about them surviving until spring.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Barn Owl hiding in the marsh – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikon 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

At one point I saw the American Barn Owl dive down into the weeds and I was able to relocate it on the ground even though it was nearly hidden. I’m so glad I still have great eyes for finding birds. After a bit it lifted of from its hidden location and started hunting again.<\/p>\n

\"AmericanAmerican Barn Owl hunting near the Bear River – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikon 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

It felt wonderful to spend time with this Bear River MBR American Barn Owl yesterday while the sun was shining on the refuge. It won’t be long before the owls begin their breeding season and I hope they are successful.<\/p>\n

Life is good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my American Barn Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

Some of these images were taken from inside a vehicle, some were taken outside using the vehicle to steady my lens, some were handheld.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It felt wonderful to spend time with this Bear River MBR American Barn Owl yesterday while the sun was shining on the refuge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[129,124,27,1148,26],"tags":[4004,3985,4052,4122,3970,4094,3967,294,4353,49,4095,373],"class_list":["post-35121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-barn-owls","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-barn-owl","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-hunting","tag-marsh","tag-owl","tag-owls","tag-owls-of-utah","tag-tyto-furcata","tag-wetlands","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-flight-mia-mcpherson-7831.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-98t","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49316,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/11\/06\/bear-river-mbr-barn-owls-in-flight-all-small-in-the-frame\/","url_meta":{"origin":35121,"position":0},"title":"Bear River MBR American Barn Owls in Flight – All Small in the Frame","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"By having the American Barn Owls smaller in the frame in my photos I can share more visual information about where these beautiful owls live, hunt and thrive.","rel":"","context":"In "American Barn Owls"","block_context":{"text":"American Barn Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barn-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Foggy, snowy American Barn Owl in flight, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-fog-snow-mia-mcpherson-1777.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-fog-snow-mia-mcpherson-1777.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-fog-snow-mia-mcpherson-1777.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-fog-snow-mia-mcpherson-1777.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34543,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/12\/28\/winter-barn-owls-and-spinning-ice-circles-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":35121,"position":1},"title":"Winter American Barn Owls and Spinning Ice Circles at Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The theme of my photo adventure yesterday seemed to be Barn Owls and spinning ice circles at Bear River MBR.","rel":"","context":"In "American Barn Owls"","block_context":{"text":"American Barn Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barn-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Barn Owl in 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/barn-owl-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-1806.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/barn-owl-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-1806.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/barn-owl-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-1806.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/barn-owl-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-1806.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42912,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/10\/30\/wintry-barn-owl-flight\/","url_meta":{"origin":35121,"position":3},"title":"Wintry American Barn Owl Flight","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this year in January I was able to photograph a American Barn Owl in flight flying directly towards me with the snowy Promontory Mountains in the background while at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "American Barn Owls"","block_context":{"text":"American Barn Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barn-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Barn Owl flight with snowy mountains, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-winter-flight-mia-mcpherson-7826.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-winter-flight-mia-mcpherson-7826.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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Spreading my wings and facing what comes at me head on.","rel":"","context":"In "American Barn Owls"","block_context":{"text":"American Barn Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barn-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Barn Owl flying straight ahead, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/barn-owl-head-on-mia-mcpherson-1467.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/barn-owl-head-on-mia-mcpherson-1467.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/barn-owl-head-on-mia-mcpherson-1467.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/barn-owl-head-on-mia-mcpherson-1467.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":79512,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/02\/17\/adult-barn-owl-on-the-wing\/","url_meta":{"origin":35121,"position":5},"title":"Adult American Barn Owl On The Wing","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"So far this winter I have only seen one Barn Owl on the wing on the 6th of January as it flew over the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "American Barn Owls"","block_context":{"text":"American Barn Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barn-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult American Barn Owl on the wing, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-flight-flats-mia-mcpherson-5834.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-flight-flats-mia-mcpherson-5834.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-flight-flats-mia-mcpherson-5834.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/barn-owl-flight-flats-mia-mcpherson-5834.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}